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With goaltender Launy Schwartz in net, the Canadian Masters Hockey Team won a silver medal at the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

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AUG 2, 2017 Like Page Contact Us By Launy Schwartz

Alberta Jewish News (EJNews) – Choosing to play hockey was not inspired by my father Stanley, whose version of a stick was an antique about an hour ago cane. My Mother Nina may have grown up going to the Montreal Forum and watching the Canadiens, but she didn’t push me towards the rink either. Yet there I stood, age six, at Thornhill Community Center’s “East” rink holding on to Edmonton Journal the boards, trying to skate with my Puppa. Media/News Company · 112,459 Likes · 20 hrs City police say they were called about a man I was soon registered in the Thornhill Community Hockey League (TCHL). I was the worst skater on my team. Then trying to lure a child away from the area of 177 came the nal game of the season. There stood our goalie, Yale Harris, at his crease – he got sick on the ice. We needed a new tender. I shouted, “I play goal in road hockey.” So, with my shin pads still on, the coaches stuffed me into the equipment. I became a goaltender. MORE HEADLINES Growing up I would play “Select” in House League, and eventually would go on to play “AA,” but never got any higher. By age six my father had passed away, and travelling was not easy for a single mother with two kids. Add the expense of equipment and travel, rep was no longer practical, but my Mom wouldn’t deny my passion for the game. I Those we lost in 2020: Remembering the rabbis, would continue to play in the TCHL. Sadly, she passed away when I was seventeen. pioneers, innovators and family members

So how does a kid who plateaued at AA manage to wear I’m Jewish. I love Hanukkah. I’m obsessed with Hallmark the Maple Leaf on his chest at the Maccabiah Games? Christmas movies. Cue the cliché – perseverance and dedication. I had a great foundation from working with Mike LoCicero in my How Pixar’s ‘Soul’ borrows from an ancient Jewish idea youth. He taught “buttery” when it wasn’t the dominant style. His teachings served me well for many years. OPH and JFED announce: Our Parents’ Home sold to Revera For the uninitiated, Beer League and Pick-Up is where players go once “organized hockey” is over. It was there What blessing should you say when you get the COVID-19 that I learned what it was like to play against guys that vaccine? We asked rabbis for their guidance. had certainly played beyond AA. I welcomed that challenge as it helped me further develop my abilities. 7 Cholent Recipes to Keep You Warm This Winter From my mid-twenties and onward I would start to get asked “where did you play your Junior/College?” – my It’s (almost) ofcial: As key deadline approaches, Israel answer? “Nowhere.” It’s uncomfortable describing this on verge of 4th elections in 2 years scenario because I never thought of myself as being that good, but when guys who have “been there” kept Faith based leaders, organizations have responsibility to asking, I had to start believing in myself. advise on moral Implications of COVID-19 vaccine By the time I was nearing 30, buttery had evolved. There is no other goalie I identify with more than Chris Osgood distribution decision (now retired) of the Detroit Red Wings. He was a throwback to the 80s, but as the Dylan song goes, the times they were a changin.’ Ozzy spent a summer learning to evolve with the new style of buttery, and so came time for me to Camp BB Riback – a family’s perspective follow suit. Jewish Edmonton Stories Online project seeks I approached McGuire Goaltending and Hockey participants Development to see if I could apply my experience as an instructor. Despite a resume that did not include “Pros/Junior/College,” I had my audition and passed. This is where my game would begin to mirror Osgood’s.

Jamie McGuire (aka “Mags”) is a mentor to me – as a goalie, and as a coach. There were times I would suit up at his Camps, much to the delight of the students. The shooters, all of whom were AAA or higher, would relish the idea of shooting on the “old man.” Their reaction was familiar – “you never played beyond AA?!”

Mags had never seen me play a game until many years Goaltender Launy Schwartz receiving Canada’s Player of the Game Award to go with the team’s silver medal in Men’s Masters Hockey after my fateful rst day. It was a Tournament for at the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Israel. Canada’s Men’s Standing Amputee Hockey Team, for which he was the Head Coach. After the tourney he quipped, “You’re really good.” Now Jamie had a penchant for kidding around, but he was serious. This gave me a sense of condence that I had never felt. TIMES OF ISRAEL Not long after, Shawn Frydberg, whom I had been playing hockey with for nearly 20 years approached me to try out for the Men’s Masters Hockey Team for the 2017 Maccabiah Games. Tryouts weren’t for quite a while, but when the Israel said likely to remain key for Intel as time arrived, I went out and I did what I have spent the majority of my life doing – Stop Pucks. I made the team. multinational readies for new CEO Throughout the year leading up to the Games, we had practiced as a team, played in some tournaments as a warm Travelers from Brazil to quarantine at hotels over up, but here we were, in Israel, representing Canada at Pais Arena in Jerusalem. Talk about surreal! new variant fears — report Man arrested after swastikas sprayed on Leonard We played against teams from the USA, Israel, and the Cohen’s Montreal synagogue inevitable Champions, Ukraine. After the Ukraine Suspect indicted for fatally shooting man he says walked through everyone by double digit scores – was trying to steal his car including an 11-2 victory over us in the round robin – I Democrat Nadler noshes on babka at Trump came into the nal knowing what I was up against. These guys were all pros, led by former NHL All-Star, impeachment hearing Alexei Zhitnik. Someone counted that I faced 80 shots. Bank of Israel to buy $30 billion in forex in 2021 to Despite the 6-2 loss, I was named Canada’s Player of curb shekel rise the Game. As Netanyahu courts Arab voters, Likud rules out coalition with Arab parties Afterwards, one of their players, Sergey Razin, insisted Iran trying to deepen roots in Syria despite signs it on giving me his jersey. He was a player I made sure I may no longer be welcome was focused on while his red, white, and blue gloves were dangling along the ice. When receiving his jersey, he asked if I had played pros. By now you know my answer, and his reaction was the same as all before him. TOPICS

So, there I was, a AA kid, born in Montreal, raised in Thornhill, standing at center ice in Jerusalem with a Academy Awards American Politics anti-semitism Silver medal around my neck, the Team Canada logo on antisemitism B'nai Brith Canada Benjamin Netanyahu beth my chest, and an immense sense of pride in being Jewish. Outside of hoisting The Stanley Cup over my israel Beth Israel Synagogue Beth Shalom head, it doesn’t get any better than this. Synagogue Calgary Calgary Jewish Federation Centre for Israel and

To my friends, family, newfound brothers, and anyone Jewish Affairs Chabad Edmonton Chanukah CIJA COVID- who helped make this journey the experience of a lifetime – Todah. Until next time… 19 Digital Edition Edmonton Edmonton Jewish Film Launy Schwartz calls Toronto home, and is the Founder of Stop the Puck Goaltending Inc. To nd out more, visit Festival Edmonton Talmud Torah School Edmonton Talmud Torah stpgoaltending.com.stpgoaltending.com. Society Hanukkah Holocaust Iran nuclear accord israel

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